A Step Forward

The Wizards might almost be done with the rebuild

Welcome back to The DMV Drive. I have returned after a long hiatus for several months. I plan to run on a consistent schedule heading into 2026 and post more. In this article, we will discuss the Wizards taking a step forward this season.

As we close out 2025, the Wizards Rebuild is no longer just a theory discussed in front-office meetings. It is growing on the court at Capital One Arena. While the record might not scream anything remotely close to contender yet, the foundational blocks are finally in place.

The Young Core

Alex Sarr:

The foundation of any successful NBA rebuild starts with a star player to build around. In Alex Sarr, the Wizards have found exactly that. This season, Sarr has established himself as the best defensive man of his class. A 7’1’’ height paired with quickness on the floor, he has provided great production for Washington.

• Shot Blocker: Sarr is currently averaging 2.2 blocks per game, ranking him 3rd in the NBA.

• Stats: In his sophomore season, he’s putting up 17.5 PPG and 8.0 RPG. More importantly, the defensive rating for the Wizards improves by 8.4 points when he is on the floor.

• Versatility: Unlike traditional centers, Sarr is comfortable switching onto guards. In a December matchup against the Grizzlies, Sarr recorded 5 blocks, three of which came against perimeter players.

Kyshawn George:

He was drafted 24th overall in the 2024 draft. Certainly looking like one of the biggest steals of that class now. At 6’8’’, George provides the elite wing lay that the Wizards desperately need.

• Shooting: Averages 15 points per game on 46.7% field goal percentage. He is currently shooting a good 40.8% from three-point range on nearly seven attempts per game.

• Secondary Playmaking: Averaging 5.1 assists, George often acts as the primary initiator in transition, allowing the Wizards to play a positionless brand of basketball that keeps defenses scrambling.

Other Young Pieces:

The 2025 Draft Lottery was disappointing as the Wizards missed out on a top 3 pick to add Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, or VJ Edgecombe. However, it is also viewed as a turning point for the franchise, and through the first few months of the season, Tre Johnson (No. 6 overall) has lived up to the hype.

Johnson is a pure scorer that the second unit needed. He isn’t just a shooter, he is a three-level threat.

• Bench Spark: Johnson is averaging 12.1 PPG in just 22 minutes of action.

• Efficiency: He has a 58% True Shooting percentage. For a 19-year-old, that is very good considering how he had to adjust to the pace of the NBA compared to college.

Along with Johnson, the Wizards have utilized Bub Carrington as a high-IQ floor general. Carrington’s chemistry with Sarr in the pick-and-roll has become the Wizards’ most reliable offensive set, with Carrington averaging 4.2 assists and only 1.1 turnovers. Bilal Coulibaly is taking a step back in terms of his shooting and points, and one could hope he can develop his game to be more efficient on offense. Cam Whitmore, who was acquired in the offseason for 2 seconds, has been benched for not meeting the team standards. He possesses a lot of talent and showed some prowess earlier in the season. Will Riley was drafted in the first round of the 2025 draft, too, and he is showing promise to have a role player upside.

By The Numbers

Yes, I know. This team is 7-24 and is heading towards another year of being in the lottery. But let’s analyze the facts here:

Some numbers have improved, and some haven’t, like the defense. A reason why could be pace, where the Wizards are the 7th fastest team in the NBA. For the most part, the Wizards are leaping forward and are projected to win more games than they did last season.

Future is Bright

The rebuild is nearly complete because the core is set. Between Sarr, George, Coulibaly, Carrington, Whitmore, and Johnson, the Wizards have six players under the age of 23 with NBA starter upside. Some even have an All-Star ceiling. Now it’s time to analyze the next steps to build a contender and the future.

• The 2026 NBA Draft: Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa. One of those 3 will be franchise-altering. Preferably, the Wizards need some better forward play, so getting Boozer or Dybantsa solves a problem. What this means if we have to rely on the basketball gods who failed us last season to give us a generational blessing.

• Cap Space: The Wizards, after getting off of CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton, will be positioned to have some money to play around with. I don’t expect them to bring in a big name from free agency, but they could in the 2027 offseason should they take a massive leap next season.

• Expectation for Next Season: Let’s say Will Dawkins has another great offseason, now the expectations will be a bit lofty. By this time next season, the Wizards should be in play-in contention, maybe higher, given how weak the East is. Coach Brian Keefe will probably get another year, and should he not boost this team, a change in leadership would have to be made.

I said this many times over my Substack writing career: the Washington Wizards’ future is bright. The rebuild is nearing the end, and we could see a team once viewed as a “get-right game” for others to be a contender in the coming seasons. Buckle up for 2026, DC, it’s going to be a wild ride.

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